Adventist World Radio

Wavescan  program #506 -- 38/1

9/12/2004

 

Main Script for Wavescan, Edition number 506 for airing on Sunday9/12/2004. 

 

Host 2

From the studios of Adventist World Radio, This is Wavescan.

Host 1

Our programme for shortwave listeners and radio hobbyists from around the world.   I’m ___________ (Host 1).

Host 2

And I’m ____________ (Host 2).

 

Bring music up and then down. 

Host 1

In today’s edition of Wavescan

Wavescan topic

We visit All India Radio Delhi and find out about three shortwave locations and two mystery transmitters.

Travelogue

We Discover How one stranger made a world of difference

IC DX report

Get the latest DX news and tips from Christopher Lewis in Europe and Bob Padula in Australia.

Feature

Then,  in rememberance of 9/11, we take you back to a comment we made just after that tragic event:  “Facing the future-- or fearing it?  What will next weeks headlines hold?”

 

PAUSE HERE  . . .  with music fade in.

Host 2

So let’s start in with our Wavescan topic for this week.

 

WAVESCAN TOPIC  (5 minutes)  Normally read by Student Volunteer

Host 1

   Here’s Steve Hamstra.

 

Play Wavescan topic: The history of radio broadcasting in India is an intensely interesting multi-faceted story that extends over a period of nearly 80 years.  With a huge population of around one billion people, it would be expected that the extent of radio coverage would be developed on a massive scale throughout India over the years.  This is indeed true, and in this edition of Wavescan, we take a look at just one segment of the Indian radio scene, the shortwave events in the capital city area.

 

          We go back to the very earliest era and discover that the first wireless station in the Delhi area was established as a Morse Code facility back in the 1920s and it was on the air in spark gap Morse under the communication callsign VWD.   

 

          Mediumwave broadcasting was introduced to Delhi on January 1, 1936 when a 10 kW transmitter was inaugurated under the callsign VUD.   The original studios were located in a bungalow on Alipur Road and the transmitter was located on Mall Road.

 

          Since this small beginning, numerous mediumwave transmitters have been placed on the air for coverage in the Delhi area, using low power, medium power and high power at four different locations.  The three major locations have been Mall Road, Kingsway & Nangli.  In addition an emergency 1 kW transmitter at the government Research Laboratory was on the air for a short while in September 1978 during a period of heavy flooding in the area.

 

          On the shortwave scene, the first transmitter was co-sited with the mediumwave unit in the Mall Road facility.  This 10 kW unit was inaugurated on September 1, 1937 as VUD2 and it was taken into regular service with a relay of the mediumwave programming more than three months later, on December 16.  Two additional shortwave transmitters were installed into the Mall Road facility, a 5 kW in 1938 and another 10 kW in 1939.

 

          When the first shortwave transmitter came on the air in 1937, an additional temporary studio was installed into an existing building on Underhill Road.  All studio production was transferred to the new AIR building in Parliament Street in 1943, and they are still there to this day.

 

          A new shortwave station was constructed at Kingsway, near the British military cantonment in 1944.  Since that time, more than a dozen shortwave transmitters ranging in power from 7.5 kW to 100 kW have been installed at Kingsway.  A total of nine of these transmitters are still listed as being in use today for regional and international coverage.   

 

          Massive and unexpected flooding in Delhi in September 1978 caught the staff at the Kingsway station off guard and unprepared.  They switched the station off, but were unable to get out.  Food supplies were dropped from planes and helicopters.  A high powered mediumwave transmitter was also co-sited at Kingsway during this era, and during this flood emergency, a 1 kW transmitter at the government Research Department provided a fill-in service.     

 

          An additional large shortwave station was constructed near the village of Khampur for national and international coverage in 1958.  Over the years, this station has contained a total of 14 transmitters ranging in power from 20 kW to 250 kW.  Three of these units at 250 kW are in use today.

 

          Now for the “Mystery Transmitters”.  It is established that a 10 kW transmitter in Madras was off the air for almost a year beginning in September 1941.  It is reported that this transmitter was hurriedly transferred to Delhi and installed to carry a new service in the Tamil language to South East Asia. 

 

          It is known that a transmitter in Delhi carrying a new Indian language  service suddenly appeared on the shortwave radio dial in January 1941.  This station was on the air under the unusual Indian callsign, VUE and it was listed as a standby unit with 250 watts. 

 

          However, monitoring reports in Australia consistently listed this station on 6085 kHz with strong signals.  We would suggest then that this transmitter was a communication facility that was diverted part time for program broadcasting to South East Asia.

 

          And what about the 10 kW transmitter from Madras?  Well, that one is a little harder to answer.  It is not known where it was installed though we could guess that it was at the original shortwave site on Mall Road.  Apparently this unit was dismantled and returned back to Madras where it was re-activated in July 1942.

 

Host 1

You’re listening to Wavescan and if you’d like to write or comment on any of the issues arising in today’s programme, Our address is,  AWR, 39 Brendon St . . .   Or e-mail letters@awr.org.  Those details again at the end of the programme.

Host 2

I’d just like to mention as well that we have been overwhelmed by the massive response to our 500th edition last month.  Thanks for your many good wishes, greetings and congratulations.  Also for your comments and suggestions.  – and it’s been especially pleasant to hear from some listeners who tune in most weeks, but have not written in for ten years or more.  Lovely to hear from you.

 

Travelogue  (5 minutes)

Host 2

Christopher Lewis will be with us for the latest news and tips in a few minutes, but first, this weeks travelogue.

Host 1

Ever been in a difficult situation where there was nobody around for miles? Our International Correspondent Monica Johnson from Jamaica knows just what it feels like. Here’s her story.

 

Play Travelogue: 1106:The Kindness of a Stranger:

IN: "One of the sweetest blesings in life is to experience .. . "

 

OUT: "By showing kindness to a stranger."

Host 1

International Correspondent Monica Johnson sharing her story and the lesons that can be drawn from the kindness of a stranger.

 

P A U S E    H E R E    P L E A S E

 

DX Report (IC and/or programme hosts)  (4 minutes IC and 2 minute host tips.  Total 6 minutes.)

Host 2

You’re listening to Wavescan, Adventist World Radio’s programme especially for shortwave listeners and radio hobbyists.  Our DX report this week is from  Christopher Lewis, here in England.

 

DX Report

Host 2

Thanks Christopher, always appreciate your good tips.  And now some more for you with Our Global DX report supplied by Bob Padula.

* 15 METRE BAND:  The 15 metre band extends from 18900 to 19020 kHz and it is allocated exclusively to the broadcasting service.  Very few stations are now using this relatively new band, and the only regular transmissions listed for the remainder of the A04 season are as follows:-

18930 kHz USA           WYFR                 Okeechobee       1545 UTC - 2245
18960        Sweden     Radio Sweden    Horby                   1030            1100
18980        USA           WYFR                 Okeechobee       1545                    2145
19010        Sri Lanka    Radio Free Europe Iranawila          0330                    1330

* ALASKA: Radio station KNLS has made some frequency changes, and here's their new schedule:-

          11765 kHz 0800 UTC  English

                             0900                    Russian

                             1000                    Mandarin
                             1200                    Mandarin
          11870        1300                    English

                             1400                    Mandarin
            9615        1500                    Mandarin

                             1700                    Russian

* CHILE: Voz Cristiana at Santiago is now scheduled for an additional English transmission to South West Africa. This is listed from 2000 to 2359 UTC on 11665 kHz carrying programming from the parent broadcaster Christian Voice, in the United Kingdom.  Transmitter power is 100 kW.

* GERMANY: Deutsche Welle, the Voice of Germany, has made some mid-season schedule changes.  The morning service in Indonesian from 2200 to 2250 UTC is now using only two frequencies, 6000 and 9670 kHz from the Trincomalee relay in Sri Lanka.  The Kigali relay on 9815 kHz has been deleted.  The Hindi service from 1515 to 1600 UTC, also  from Trincomalee, is now using 6180 kHz, replacing 6170 kHz.

* TURKEY: The Voice of Turkey is now scheduled for the new channel of 13720 kHz for their Spanish service to Europe from 1630 to 1700 UTC. This replaces 13740 kHz to avoid the Voice of Vietnam on that channel in Russian during the same time period, to the same target area.

 

* AUSTRALIA: Commercial Radio Australia reports that as part of the continuing Sydney Digital Radio Trials, several consumer panels have been established to evaluate the performance of the digital audio
broadcasting and to test a range of content and technology.  Various
digital radios are being tested by the panelists, including car radios, tuners, and portable receivers.  Panelists will complete regular surveys over the next 12 months.  The Australian Government has not as yet authorized regular digital radio broadcasting and this delay is contributing to concerns by commercial interests wishing to roll out new receivers for the consumer market.

          Crowds flocked to a large departmental store in the Sydney suburb
of Alexandria recently as well known broadcaster John Laws opened a digital radio centre.  The highlight of the display was the world's first digital radio that allows listeners to pause, rewind and record live radio.

          And that completes our Global DX Report, compiled by the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association, in Melbourne, Australia.  Reception reports are welcome for the colorful EDXP QSL cards and should be sent to:-

                   Radio EDXP

                   404 Mont Albert Road
                   Mont Albert

                   Victoria 3127

                   Australia.

 

 

 

And now just a quick reminder of the Wavescan DX contest running this month.  All the details our on our website, english.awr.orf/Wavescan – but in summery, what you need to submit are copies of two different themes of QSL cards, a short script for a Wavescan radio topic, three radio cards and three AWR reception reports.  And for the competition only, you should use this mailing address:

September DX Contest

                        Box 29235

                        Indianapolis

                        Indiana 46229

                        USA.

 

 

Feature  (5 minutes) 

Host 2

September 11, 2001.  A date, an event, that changed many lives and attitudes.  An event that has been remembered this weekend.

Host 1

It matters not what langugae or culture -- your newspaper will have carried coverage of September 11 memorials --  Looking back through our archives we came across a reflection we made a couple of years back but that still seems relevent now.

 

Victor Hulbert reflects -- but first, a few thoughts from students at an international college in England on how September 11, 2001, changed their lives:

 

Play Feature 1321: Sept 11 revisited:

IN:  Vox Pop

 

OUT:  Something!

Host 2  ---

Thank you Victor.  And I rememeber the quote of one of my favorite authors, Ellen White, that we have nothing to fear for the future except we forget how God has led us in the past.

Ending

1  Host 2

And that brings us to an end of this week’s edition of Wavescan – a production of Adventist World Radio.  Next week we will be:

1.  reporting from the Japan Ham Radio fair and visiting with the Japan Shortwave listeners club.

2. Our DX reports will cover the South Pacific and Southern Asia.

3.  And we’ll be taking a short look at how to live a healthy life.

2  Host

Your reception reports, tips and comments are always welcomed.  Here’s our address:

3  Host

AWR, 39 Brendon St, London, W1, England, or e-mail us at letters@awr.org.  

4  Host

That’s also the address for your Bible questions or free Bible Guides:  AWR, 39 Brendon St, London, W1, England, or e-mail us at letters@awr.org.  

5 Host

Wavescan is written and produced by Adrian Peterson and Steve Hamstra.  You can find it on the web at:  english.awr.org/Wavescan.  I’m . . . (Me)

6 Host

. . . and I’m . . .  (You) Thanks for joining us.

Delhi - Early Communication Stations

 

References

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call      Year     Information                                                                                  Reference

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VWD   1920s  Spark Gap Morse Code station                                                  YBWT&T 82.7 557

 

Delhi – Shortwave Sites

 

Summary

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location          Hall      Transmitters   Make                            In         Out

Mall Road        1          1 @   10 kW    Philips                         1937    Retired

                                    1 @     5 kW                                        1938    Retired

                                    1 @   10 kW                                        1940    Retired                                               

 

Kingsway        1          2 @  7.5 kW    AWA                            1944    1986

                                    2 @   20 kW    AWA                            1945    1986

                                    2 @ 100 kW    General Electric          1944    1986

                                    4 @   50 kW    Brown Boveri              1986

 

                        2          2 @ 100 kW    Brown Boveri              1983

 

                        3          3 @   50 kW    BEL                             1996

 

Khampur         1          1 @ 100 kW    Marconi                       1958    Retired

                                    2 @   20 kW    AWA                            1962    Retired

 

                        2          2 @   50 kW    STC Australia              1965    Retired

                                    2 @ 100 kW    STC Australia              1965    Retired

 

                        3          2 @ 250 kW    Brown Boveri              1989

                                    2 @ 250 kW    Continental                  2000

                                    3 @ 250 kW    Thomson CSF                        2002               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delhi –  Mystery Transmitters

 

Summary

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location          Callsign  kW    kHz      Year     Date    Observation   

Madras            VUM2       10    6085    1938    Jun 16 New SW unit inaugurated at Avada-1

Delhi                VUE       “.25”   6085    1941    Jan      Heard in Australia with very strong signal

Delhi                VUD3       10    6085    1941    May      New call on this channel for “native” service 

Madras            VUM2       10    7270    1941    Sep      Final broadcast in Avada before transfer

Madras            VUM         10    7270    1942    Jul        1st broadcast after return to Avada

========================================================================

AIR Delhi - Shortwave

Shortwave Sites

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location          Year     Date    Event                                                                           Reference

Mall Road        1936    Jan 1   New 10 kW MW transmitter inaugurated as VUD               RS 1-60

                        1937    Sep 1   New 10 kW SW inaugurated as VUD2                       AIR Document

 

Kingsway        1942                3 @ 100 kW on air (2 @ Kingsway?)                   PP2WBR 2002 19

                        1948                100 kW installed for wide area coverage             PP2WBR 2002 22           

                        1958                Kingsway getting overcrowded                             PP2WBR 2002 34

                        1978                Floods, Kingsway off air because of floods                            DXM 7

                        1978    Sep 5   2 @ 100 2 @20 2 @ 10 off air because of floods                    AJSD

                        1992                Carrying Delhi A 50 kW 4960 & 6190                         DXO 11-92 62

                        1992                20 kW feeder service 3295 off air                               DXO 11-92 62

 

Khampur         1958    Jan 1   500 acres purchased near Khampur                   PP2WBR 2002 34

                                                100 kW Marconi installed                                      PP2WBR 2002 34

                                                100 kW Marconi later sold for scrap                     PP2WBR 2002 34

                        1962                2 @ 20 kW AWA transmitters installed                PP2WBR 2002 34

                        1965                2 @ 50 kW & 1 @ 100 kW STC installed            PP2WBR 2002 34

                        1971                New 250 kW planned                                         EA 79.17 10-71 125

                        1978                Floods, but still on air                                                              DXM 7

                        1978    Sep 5   8 SW on air during floods                                                         AJSD

                        1988                Old 20 kW transmitters removed                                 ADXN 2-89 6

                        1988                One of the 6 @ 100 kW removed                                 ADXN 2-89 6

                        1988                4 @ 50 kW installed                                                      ADXN 2-89 6

                        1989                3 stage modernization new hall, 2 @ 250 BBC   PP2WBR 2002 34

                        1989    Feb      2 @ 250 due on air soon                                              ADXN 2-89 6

                        1992                Relay Delhi A 3365 20 kW                                          DXO 11-92 62

                        1999    Dec     2 @ 250 installed for over a year but not yet in use   DXO 12-99 11

                        2000    Jun      2 @ 250 Continental installed                               PP2WBR 2002 34

                        2000    Jun 26 New 350 kW transmitter inaugurated                              ADG Email

                        2001    Jan      Off air, overmodulation & careless operation      PP2WBR 2002 34                         2002                STC transmitters awaiting demolition                              PP2WBR 2002 34

                        2002                One transmitter hall now storeroom, other gone PP2WBR 2002 34

                        2002                3 @ 250 kW Thomson CSF installed                   PP2WBR 2002 34

                        2002                New transmitters activated recently                            JJD 18-10-02

                        2002                15 towers, 49 curtains, 8 miles feeder lines         PP2WBR 2002 34

                        2002                On air at reduced power                                       PP2WBR 2002 35

                                                     1 AWA & Marconi, 2 @ 50 & 2 @ 100 STC

                                               

 Kingsway or   1984                1 @ 100 currently in use for External Service          NZDXT 1984 5 

     Khampur    1985                2 @ 100 “inter-net purposes” under installation    AIR Report 1985

                        1985                50 kW under installation for regional coverage     AIR Report 1985

                        1992                Old 10 kW broken Delhi A on Kingsway & Khampur DXO 11-92 62

                        1984    Sep 10 Twin 100 kW unit inaugurated, Asia Africa    JJ  & ADXN 11-84 13

 

 

 

Delhi                VUE     1941    Feb      New 250 w very loud Australia         R&H 79.12 2-41 53, 56

                        VUE     1941                VUE standby unit                                      PP2WBR 2002 19

                        VUM     1941    Dec     10 kW moved from Madras to Delhi         PP2WBR 2002 19

                                    1942                3 @ 10 kW SW on air in Delhi                  PP2WBR 2002 19

========================================================================

 

 

AIR Delhi - Shortwave

 

Mall Road Transmitters

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Location          kW       Call      Year     Date    Event                                                         Reference

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mall Road          10      VUD2   1937  Sep 1     New VUD2 inaugurated, 6th AIR transmitter

                                    VUD2   1937  Dec 16  10 kW inaugurated Delhi A                           RS 1-60                                     VUD6   1937  Dec 12  10 kW inaugurated                                 RS 10-54 27

                            5      VUD3   1938  Jun 1     5 kW inaugurated Delhi A                             RS 1-60

                                    VUD7   1938  Jun 1     5 kW inaugurated                                   RS 10-54 27

                          10      VUD     1939                10 kW installed External service  PP2WBR 2002 19

                                    VUD4   1940  Feb 16   10 kW inaugurated Delhi A                           RS 1-60